Another snow day will extend school year

Norwich students, if you miss school today because of the latest winter storm, it will come at a cost — the school year will be extended a day in June. According to the National Weather Service, the storm was expected to start early this morning and linger into Friday afternoon. Between 3 and 7 inches of sn...

Norwich students, if you miss school today because of the latest winter storm, it will come at a cost — the school year will be extended a day in June.

According to the National Weather Service, the storm was expected to start early this morning and linger into Friday afternoon. Between 3 and 7 inches of snow could fall. Heavy, wet snow combined with strong winds could lead to falling tree branches and power lines, the weather service reported.

After already canceling several school days because of two big storms this year, school leaders are starting to question when the last day of school will actually be.

Board of Education Chairman Yvette Jacaruso said Norwich Public Schools have already made up for one snow day during their February recess. The next snow day will be made up at the end of the year.

“I can’t predict what is going to happen,” Jacaruso said.

Lebanon Superintendent Janet Tyler said she is playing the storm out by ear, but plans to add a day to the end of the year if a snow day occurs, making the last day of school June 20.

“I am monitoring the weather service,” Tyler said, “but it is not looking promising. It will most likely affect the next two days.”

Extra day in May

Griswold Superintendent Paul Smith said he plans to keep June 21 as their last day of school despite the storm, but he said the professional development day that is scheduled for May 24 will most likely turn into a normal day of school if the storm leads to another snow day.

Smith said Griswold schools are in the midst of taking the Connecticut Mastery Test and the Connecticut Academic Performance Test, making his main concern having to reschedule these test days.